[Ralf Hutter]

On a side note. I wish people would stop using FLAC. IMHO, FLAC is the Flash of audio.

Please tell me what format to use then.

I have almost 4TB of FLAC files that I'm going to have to re-rip and I'd like to get started sooner rather than later......

 

[JoseM]

For SQ, this has been more transparent than FB2k to me...smallplayer
 
www.igorware.com › Software
 
But UI is the barest minimum

 

[Roseval]

If you are on a Mac and use iTunes, FLAC is a problem as Apple refuses to support this format.
However, ALAC is a good alternative.
If you want to play FLAC you do have to use another media player
A couple of alternative can be found here:
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/OSX/Players.htm
 
“Best” sound quality wise is hard to answer.
I don’t know a reliable survey comparing media players SQ wise.
Most of them probably are using Core audio anyway.
There are players like Audirvana claiming to improve sound quality by bypassing the OSX mixer.
Might work  but this are things you have to find out yourself.

 

[fredeb]

I still and always have and always will use Winamp . I don't use it with the library , only playlist window , it plays everything i want it to , including FLAC , or rather , especially FLAC . 

 
http://www.winamp.com/
 
or
 
http://forums.winamp.com/showpost.php?p=2984799&postcount=2

 

[Neccros]

I use Winamp too... have since day 1... Also use Foobar.  I don't create playlists, I just grab the directories I have my music organized in, and drag them to the player.  Simple

 

[fredeb]

  I use Winamp too... have since day 1... Also use Foobar.  I don't create playlists, I just grab the directories I have my music organized in, and drag them to the player.  Simple

Yeah - using it this way keeps one aware of the directory structure on the HDD . I right-click ( windows ) on folder and select " play in winamp " . I also don't create playlists ( or save them ) , The playlist window just shows what's cued up to play .

 

[fredeb]

  If you are on a Mac and use iTunes, FLAC is a problem as Apple refuses to support this format.
However, ALAC is a good alternative.
If you want to play FLAC you do have to use another media player
A couple of alternative can be found here:
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/OSX/Players.htm
 
“Best” sound quality wise is hard to answer.
I don’t know a reliable survey comparing media players SQ wise.
Most of them probably are using Core audio anyway.
There are players like Audirvana claiming to improve sound quality by bypassing the OSX mixer.
Might work  but this are things you have to find out yourself.

This link seems quite intelligent and worth a look . I agree with Roseval re SQ of different players .

 

[jrflanne]

I like Audirvana. 

 

[Neccros]

  I like Audirvana. 

That layers on top of iTunes??

 

[Bobpaule]

Foobar 2000 here. I kept deleting it then going back to it, tried all others. IMHO Foobar for the newb is intimidating, but once you remember where everything is it becomes perfect. Kudos to Piotr Pawlowski!
 
Yep, Apple will do anything for an $, read this recent world news item, ALAC or 17 dongles, they would copyright the air if they could,
just to keep you in their watertight cash drain compartment:
 
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37880723

 

[Roseval]

In 2011 Apple made  ALAC open source.

 

[Neccros]

  FLAC is awesome.
 
Yep, Apple will do anything for an $, read this recent world news item, ALAC or 17 dongles, they would copyright the air if they could,
just to keep you in their watertight cash drain compartment:
 
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37880723

Wish Apple would just wake up and realize, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it..."  Oh wait... they want more $$$$ selling dongles....
 
I'm just waiting for the flow chart that tells me which dongle I need based on what I am trying to do...HAHA

 

[jrflanne]

  That layers on top of iTunes??

It can but I do not. I keep my library outside of itunes. Audirvana's library function works just fine and itunes library has been an endless pain. My music library has a mix of itunes purchases, ripped cd's and downloads from HDTracks. 

 

[Neccros]

 
It can but I do not. I keep my library outside of itunes. Audirvana's library function works just fine and itunes library has been an endless pain. My music library has a mix of itunes purchases, ripped cd's and downloads from HDTracks. 

What I meant by layers on top is Audirvana cannot play music on its own, it latches onto iTunes?  Not how it handles audio files.

 

[JackDiesel]

JRiver, can play any format, ton of SQ options, extensive tagging support, highly customizable, attractive and relatively easy to use.